Cracker Christmas Is Cooking

News from you - COMMUNITY NOTES

Umatilla will have its annual Cracker Christmas arts and crafts show on Saturday and next Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. both days in Cadwell Park, downtown Umatilla.

The Christmas parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday along Central Avenue in Umatilla. More than 100 units are scheduled. A lighted boat parade is 7 p.m. Saturday on Lake Umatilla. Trophies will be awarded.

The Umatilla Chamber is sponsoring its first Cracker Cookoff with prizes in several categories. Cooking and judging will commence after the parade. A registration fee of $5 per person is required. Details: (352) 669-3511 or 669-2430.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

THE SECOND annual Main Street Christmas House will be open in downtown Leesburg through Dec. 12 featuring handmade holiday decorations and gifts.

- CHRISTMAS IN Eustis opens at 9 a.m. Friday and continues through Dec. 6 at the newly renovated Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Drive. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. On Saturdays and weekdays the hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Items include ornaments, toys, wreaths, clocks, angels, dolls and doll clothing, pillows, stained glass, quilts and afghans, jewelry, jams and jellies and pottery.

HARLEY BENEFIT RIDE

THE GATOR Riders of Lake County - Lake County Harley Davidson Club - will sponsor its annual Ride Off the Stuffing poker run on Nov. 29. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Gator Harley Davidson dealership on U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg.

The cost is $5 per poker hand. The ride ends at Dead River Vic's in Tavares. The last bike in will be at 2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Lake County Schools DARE. Details: (352) 787-8050.

HOLIDAY PROJECT

OPERATION CHRISTMAS Child, a Samaritan's Purse project supported by the South Lake YMCA and the Central Florida YMCA, gives individuals and families an opportunity to send a message of hope to children in crisis areas of the world through gift-filled shoe boxes.

Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, adopted Operation Christmas Child in 1993 as part of the ongoing effort to bring international relief to countries in crisis. Last year, Operation Christmas Child collected more than 1.6 million shoe boxes from the United States, Canada and Great Britain and distributed them to children in war-torn countries.

THE EUSTIS All States Club has dances from 7:30 to 10 p.m. each Friday at the Eustis Senior Center, 301 W. Ward Ave. Potluck dinners and bingo games are 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday each month.

Card games are offered at 7 p.m. each Thursday. Shuffleboard games are played at 1 p.m. each Tuesday and Friday.

TUTORS NEEDED

AMERICORPS AND Partners in Success are recruiting volunteers to tutor students in kindergarten through second grade in Lake County schools.

Volunteers will receive a small living allowance and health care coverage. On successful completion of 1,700 hours of volunteer work, applicants may receive $4,725 for college tuition. Details: Chris Greene at (407) 740-9169.